Couple charged with grand theft auto

A husband and wife were arrested on auto theft charges last week, a few minutes after the victim discovered his vehicle was stolen.

The victim didn't know his vehicle had been stolen until he saw it being driven past him on the 200 block of Harrison Street Wednesday morning.

He called Kern County Sheriff's deputies and started following the vehicle himself, Senior Deputy Kevin George said.

The victim followed the suspects to the Courtyard Terrace apartments and ran into an apartment unit.Deputies, accompanied by Taft Police, quickly found the suspects, identified as Abigail Pauline Gutierrez, 38, and Manuel Gutierrez, 40.

Both suspects were arrested for auto theft and both are being held on no-bail holds for violating post-custody release, George said.